Envelope feeding mechanism



C. L. P051" ENVELOPE FEEDING MECHANI SM Filed Sent. 2B l 922 6 Sheets-Sheet l NWN: 1924 'ifi WHW?? ENVELOPE FEEDING MECIIANISM Filed Smart. |922 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nav. 4 1924.

f C. L. POST ENVELOPE FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Sent. 253, :|922 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 ENVELOPE FEEDING MECHANI SM Filed Sent. REL, i922 6 Sheeizs-Shece'I 6 @www C/w/ Z. 75k/f ffii@ M( WMLMML? A Ut Patented Nov. 4, 1924.

UNITEll S'lit'lltl Application `tiled fiepteinher To allie/mm it may conce/m.'

Be it known that I, CLAUDE L. Peer, e citizen ot the United States, residing?,` at Chicago, in the county et Cool; and tltete oit Illinois, have invented certain new :ind 'use ful Improvements in ldnvelopesFeeding Mechanisms, oit which the 'tolloit/ing,I is :i dey scription.

My invention relates to improvements in envelope feeding mechanisms, and partienlerly to such e mechanism 'lier use in. con-I jnnction with a printing; press or the like, wherein it is desired to leed sheets, envelopes, etc., et e` high rete of speed end yet have said sheets :ted through the press in nhsolute registry with the printii rolls.

One ot the objects ol: my in .fention is to provide Ineens for centering the sheets es they are ted between the printing rolls.

Many other Objectis end advantages et the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosures herein given.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and com bination ot pei-ts herein shown end described, and more j iarticnlzuily pointed ont in the claims.

ln the drawings, wherein like reterence characters indicate like or eorresponding,l parts,

Fig. l is a side elevation. ot an improved device;

Fig. 2 'is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is e sectional view teiten snbstan-itially on the line 3 i of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4t is a plan vienT oit the center device itself;

Fig. 5 is ,fr sectional vien7 taken snliisten" tielly on the line 5 5 ol Fig. ll;

liig,l 6 is a. side view et the device shown in Fi g. Zl; j

Fig., 7 is sectional view taken substen tielly on the line 7 7 ot 4;

Fign 8 is a sectional vienT teken substantially on the line 8-8 ot Fig, et;

Fig. 9 is en enlarged finplnentary plan view of the platen and type rolls showing; the means for preventing contact therebetween When there is no envelope passim;l be tween the rolls;

Figfl@ is si sectional view teiten snbstantiellyon the line 1-l0 et Fig., 9;

Illu. 591,107.

Fig, ll is :i sectional view taken substnntielly on the. line fil-ll. oit Fig. 9; and

'l2 is e. sectionel view teken substantiel y on the line l2-S12 oit Fin. JO.

ln. the j iret'erred :torni oit constrinztion, shown. in the drawings, l lieve shown the device es used in connection with a, press tor feeding envelopes trom e magazine, con-- veyingg there between e, peil: et print-ingl rolls and discheingingl them in a, pile et the rea! ot the press. lt to he understood.. however, that my device not only adapted to be used` tor envelopes, but it ,may be used iter teedinp; any other similar objects or materials, snch sheets or the like.

l represents e. stipporting,v :traine tor the mechanism, the seme being; adapted to he suitably supported by or mounted upon n ting structure se that it Will be ol' i he ight for most elllcient operationn s device the envelopes are retained in a magazine or the like., and nre 'ted one at a.4 time entometically through printingI rolls :ind erev then automatically discharged and stacked np tor renmval. The printing; rol comprise e. pair ott rolls 2 and 3 respectively, the :torniier beine' the type roll end the letter the platen, end thro p ;h which the envelopes or sheets mest pass to be imprinted. rlfhese rolls are driven positively in nnison through any ttorin of `gg'efirin or the like, and in tiny desired manner, both ot said rolls rotatingl et the seine rete ot speed. lt is to be noted, however, that the platen roll hes the ends ot its she-tt 4t mounted in ec centrically bored bushing shown more clearly in Figs. 9 and l0, tor e purpose to he more clearly herein attese described The magazine G is pr terebly removeil arranged on the trame et a dist-ance en" trom the printing; rolls S?, and 5l, and linger 7 operated in env desired manner is positioned edjecent the discharge end ot the magazine to engage the iiaps ot the enve lopes end entend them 'forwardly toward the printing rolls so that they may he lrictionelly held hetiveen 'the peripherel surfaces ot the feed rolls tl and 9, respectively, end pulled therethrough in the direct-ion et the printing; rolls, seid 'feed rolls Fl end Q heine; also positively driven.

l'ntermedisrte the printingr rolls und the :tend rolls there errenged ineens 'tor posi tively conveying the envelopes as the-.v are discharged lrorn the feed rolls ing theni to the printing rolls while at the saine time centering the envelopes so that they will be in the correct position Jfor printing as they are ted into the printing rolls. This last-mentioned mechanism comprises a framework having substantially parallel lateral bars ll and l2 at the ends thereof adi cent the printing` rolls and feed rolls 33e-spew tively. Envelope supporting bars 13 extend between the bars ll. and laterally thereto and upon v-.rhieh the envelopes are adapted to slide. Channel (Sfr-ride members lll; are ranged laterally et the bars ll and l2 and project therebeyond at both the ends an=l are adapted to receive the side edges or the envelopes as they are conveyed :Loin the feed rolls to the printing` rolls as shown clearly in Fig. 4.

In order to. accommodate the different sizes-ot envelopes which mayl be inet with in .ordinary use, the bars 'le are adju. connected. to the bars ill and 12 at their ends as at and 16 respectively. The channel bars ld preferably diverge or are spaced apart a greater distance at the ends adjae cent the .feed rolls than at other points therealong, and the discharge ends ot said channel barsare spaced apart a di ence eqral to the length of the envelopes therethrough. ln this rnanne': the envelopes will enter between the channel bars without hindrance and come into exact registry or center as they are discharged troni the channel bars and 'fed between the printing rolls.

11i-order to inore positively actaate the envelopes daringl their travel between the feed rolls and type bars, belt conveyors 17 are arranged beneath tie centering; and have lngs 1S spaced thereon at suitable intervals to engage the rear edges oi" the envelopes and push then'i alone; Adapted to cooperate with the roll 9, and driving;` v connected therewith by a belt 19, is a roll 20, whereby the envelopes are pressed downwardly and lirinly' held on the conveyor belts during their travel. Short hars /l are .arranged parallel tothe liars 13 and spaced a short distance thcreabove at the discharge end of the centering device shown in Figs. and 4, `said bars preferably ha .n their inner ends np-tnrned se to p11-even any` interference with the envelopes. A spring nieniber 22., having a curved end 23, is mounted vupon the cross ha ll, so that its curved end will bear on the envelopes heing discharged from the centering device retarding the envelope and hence allowing feedingv guide to fully act.

The member 22 is l'mounted so that the tension thereof rnay be varied, t iere being' a coil spring` 24 positioned intermediate the bar I11 andthe end of the inember connectedfthereto.

fra .ae

ln order that the type roll and printing roll shall not c inc together wlnncver there is no envelope being` lied thcretlirongrh, the shaft l is nionntefil in eccentric bnshings has been heretofore dcscribefl. Connected to one or' said bnshii :hewn in lfin's. o7 a and l0` is a lever ne. so that when the` lever is roclred or pivotefi, the linshine; Ywill be scillated to lower the rotational axis of the shaft land tlns separate the rolls f2 and 3.

.lin order that the ecscnli'ic ionz'ials al' both ends ol the roll Il nmv he atfxr/,l siinultaneonsv. a gear si.- 'ncnt ffl is operatively conne. led to the le\er and is rdap ed to rnef'fh with :i pinion 2i" o` a shall' 15# inonnted at the sides of the traine. the other end et the shalt having a pinion lheremi similar to the pinion 9.7 and internieshiin'yj n gear segment rigidly connected to :he bushing at that end of the shalt 4. 3- cani nieinber is drivinp'lv connected the shaft or' the roll but is slidalile .oi fritndinallj" thereof. said cam heine ot 'l sneh i contour that it will operate tlnl lever with. An ahntnient or stationarv cani 12S) is carried on the traine l to engage the rotary and re'liev'e said cainont of registry the lever i, but guiding seid c un into rgistjlf therewith whenever said Can is slid longitudinally ol the shall; of the type :'ol (to the i' 1 1 .il coiled springr all is inter-- posed b reen the rotary cani QS and` tln` adjacent end olg tl e type roll7 in order tu constantly nr-re said rotarj,1 cani to the righ! and into (nieraliive ene; ,rement with flw lever In fir-:iler tw permit the springr tl lo oneate onlyY when there is no envelope being; ted between the printingr rolls. a pin Ill. lavinn an enlarsred head 3Q :it its end. is rigidly carried lj' the cani Q8 and oroievls inwardly of' the inner side thereof. said enY larncd head ha 'ingr c. pair ot snbstaniiallv parallel beveled snrtaces at its sides for a pinkpose to be more clearly lwreinall'er described.

rl. rocker shaft 3 nionnted within the roll the sainehaving at one end a fork niczinher E34-t. whose pri jfrs are beveled :n their inner opposed i aces to vorrespond with the hei' thc perallel sides ot the enl et the pin l, .seid shattcarryingy a lever arm 35 at its other end.. as shcn'n in Fini, 1V, The arm 'fl is mounted so :is to he movable inware'llv la low the envelopecf iiactinfr. sin-tace el' thv roll 2./ and to he nieve to nroiect ontwardiv beyond said contantine.- .snrface whenever there is no envelope being Fed between tl'e rolls. ..5 spring` 3G inajrrbe positioned a( some suitable pc' tv for instance :it the forl 34 in order to normallv nrgire the fork and lever arin 35 outwardly if so desired 13" fill :misses ing rolls. The spring constantly presses the rotnry nain toivaid the stationaryY cani said cano 2S beingf `tree to inove toward the right because the enlarged .heed Z oi the pin fail' in position to permit ,euch slidingg` inoveinent through the forli Bd. rlhe eontiiuied rotation oil the seni Elfi -will musi-i it to slide oli the sein 29 end en ige with the rocher arni 25 octnotinpj it 'to cause the. sepaiation ot the rollsg the cani agigain engaging the cain 29 and pushed bach out oit registry with the aiin the pars all resuining their full-line position again after each separation et the rolls 5i spring; 3l innv be positioned to ene' :he rocher erin 25 to return it to its n( iol position alter each actuation thereofM .As soon as en envelope .is in position tor insertion between the rolls the arm will strike seid ein velope and be inoved inwardly to dottedline position, thereby rochiingij the part 534i to interi slt it with the pin 3lAm is sl'ioivii in dotted-line position in lliir. 129 so :is to pre vent the s| oringil BO troni sliding;l the cani E38 to the right. Thus in each rotzition olli the printing; rolls the parts nssnine the toll-line posit-ions shown in the 'iiggiires7 so thnt the noni 25% inov be inoved to the rip'ht in cese there is no cnvoloperbetivc 1 the i lis, or that the ofrni Siti may be p. d inw-ardtv to loolir the earn 28 against inoveineot in cese there an envelope in position.

llavinn' thus described niv inventionm it is obvious that various immaterial inoditicstions inev be made in the seine `without dei'iartinn' itroin the spirit olf niv invention; hen ee l do not Wish to he understood as liin` itingi invselt to the enact an, construction., arrangement and combinntion ot parts herein shown and described or uses inentioned.

lWhat l: claim as .new and desire to seeure by Letters Patent is:

`i ln combination with ineens for hold in@n suppl?,T olI envelopes and printine1 rolls spaced theretioin, et ineens :tor positiveiiY feeding said envelopes successively troni seid supply,7 and conveying" them to said rolls. ineens intermediate said rolls find snp ply tor al' gninp: and centering; en-

e being conveyed, and ineens velopcs ivhi trictionallv enpfaqinp; and retardiireu seid sheets ns they are discharged troni said cenw tering means.

In combination with n pnii' of rolls and means 'for conveying sheets thereto. et ineens for centering said sheets as they moved therealongv stationary ineens iter said sheets While be ineens `tor frictionaliy f fiid sheets to inove them forwardu 1,-; ihein onto said stationary sup- 'ieinhersn 'ind tension ineinhers enf sheets as they ere discharged rfi-interingr device into said rolls S. 'in eoinhinntion with means tor holdii'ieA a supply olf sheets sind printing rolls, ol

'Feeding said sheets successivelifY :nid wipplv to said rolls, means inten rate so "l rolls and siujiply for alie-nine; ond centering; said sheet@ means or n.aintninine; the sheets against lateral moveivhile in said aligning; ineensy and l `ible tension ineens engiginel said sheets as thev are discharged to said rolls troni said ii g means.

Ll ln combination with ineens `for holdin@n :i supply7 ot sheets and printingi rolls spaced th refrein7 ot ineens 'for positively tendine; seid sheets successively from said supply to said rolls channel guides for slidaihljv receiving; the outer edges oit seid sheets and teriniinitinp; adjacent said rolls, friction ineen:Y ennui; ng; the sheets 'for inain taining;v thein in said guides, and adjustahle tension ineens engaging and retardu i' said sheets as theo,T are discharged :trein sold slidabljv supporting1 j Y in o voor' Y ruines sind enter between said rolls.

in eonihination with on envelope inap'- aeinez, printingl rolls spa-ced therefrom, and

means :tor withdrawing envelopes successi.e :troni snid magasine with. their flaps opein oit means :tor conve/ving1 seid envelope Les ot the envelopes While hein conn 'tor letealljr' adinet seid 1 tor maintaining said enveegninst arcidentofi shi in seid convejvoill ineens lier vieldebljy engaging said envelopes to retard thein they are beingy discharged trom said conveyor into said rolls, :ind ineens :tor ndjustine the tension oit seid lestonerifoned ineens.

'i2 ln coinbiinition with a pair of printing; rolls and ineens `lior conveying)` sheets 'to said roller otD a 'traine intermediate said printing; rolls and the point etn entriT oit saii' sheets into said conveying ineens tor centering said sheets as they are moved fio therealong, said last-mentioned means comprisingavv frame having substantially parallel barsspaced thereon, guide channel hars spaced apart laterally of said bars and adiustably secured thereto at each end so thatA their distance apart, ma loe varied at either end, stationardvY means .or slidahly supporting rsaid sheets While being conveyed, drive means for frictionallyY engaging said sheets to move. them forwardly and press them onto said stationary supporting members, and tension rmeans engaging said sheets 'as they are discharged from said centering device into said printing rolls.

8. In combination with means for holding asnpply of envelopes and printing rolls spaced therefrom, of means for poeitivelj,v feeding said envelopes successively from said suppl)v :ind conveying them to said rolls, means inlerniediate said rolls and sul ply for aligning and centering said enve opes While being conveyed, and means pressing on said envelopes during their en tire passage through said lastrinentiomui means to prevent any liftv thereof,

In iiestinmny whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence ot lu'o sul)` scrihing Witnesses.

CLAUDE L. POST. Witnesses RoY lV. HILL, RUTH M. EPHRAHW. 

